I must now confess to everyone that I am addicted. Yes, people, my body craves for my daily fix. And when I take it, my body feels healthier. What is my burden? Vinegar!

This is definitely one of the stranger habits I’ve picked up in China, but somewhere along these three years I started to love the taste of good vinegar, especially apple vinegar. I don’t know exactly why, but my body literally feels good after drinking it.  I found a great article in the New York Times which discusses one possible reason; vinegar is very effective at lowering sugar levels as well as increasing your sensation of feeling full. The data was quite robust and is detailed in the article, but the main point was that a small amount of vinegar with a meal will lower your sugar absorption levels by 30%, and also make you feel more full and hopefully eat a smaller portion. That 30% is a huge amount for a diabetic struggling to control their sugars and wanting to avoid insulin shots.

This is a great and easy suggestion for anyone to improve their health a bit, and especially for diabetics or those with “early” or borderline diabetes. As for how to take it, the easiest way is as a vinaigrette on a small salad with your meal. I often have it just in warm water but some may find that too acidic for their stomach. People should experiment! Plus, there are a lot of choices for vinegar in all local markets. It’s nice to know that there’s a medical reason for my madness. Does anyone else like vinegar?